Press & News

The Battle for Lion Street


After months of planning and negotiation, Fletcher in Rye CIC and St Mary’s Church PCC have succeeded in buying the Lion Street site from South Coast College Hastings (SCCH).

Following the refusal of planning permission to build houses and flats, SCCH have agreed to the sale which will preserve Adult Further Education in the old FE Centre and will provide St Mary’s with a Church Hall – something they have long wanted.

Fletcher in Rye CIC will develop the old Library, Art Room and link buildings into the Fletcher Centre - as seen at the open exhibition in November. The intention is to preserve and restore the Art Room and create a new 100 seat performance venue – a new employer and modern asset for the whole of Rye.

Who are we?

Fletcher in Rye CIC


A group of local residents with experience in Business, Banking and Theatre.


We came together originally to try to establish a theatre in The Monastery and promote the name of John Fletcher - the Jacobean playwright, and colleague of Shakespeare - who was born in Rye. The group’s focus switched to Lion Street when it was threatened with redevelopment.


We're building links with local businesses (including Jonathan Dunn Architects and Kino Digital) - helping us preserve Rye’s heritage by establishing creative and sustainable uses for its historic and potentially redundant buildings.